Thread: Ukemi
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Old 08-13-2004, 12:57 PM   #5
Charles Hill
Dojo: Numazu Aikikai/Aikikai Honbu Dojo
Location: Three Lakes WI/ Mishima Japan
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 837
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Re: Ukemi

Quote:
Mary Kuhner wrote:
I met a sensei recently who talked about the dark side of this. "I could get a novice like you through a shodan test, with twelve weeks or so to memorize the basic moves"--and he proceeded to have me throw him with kata tori ikkyo. He was a fraction of a move ahead of me the whole way, so that it looked as though I was throwing him nicely, but really he was in total control.
This is a great way for someone with more experience to teach technique to someone with less experience. This is how women social dance teachers teach their male students how to lead.

BTW, this may have no relevence to those outside of Japan, but I think the words "ukemi" and "uke" can be problematic for Japanese people. The word ukemi means "passive" and I have found too many students and fellow practioners in Japan to take this too literally. I'm wondering if others who have practiced in Japan have had a similar experience.

Charles Hill
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